Selecting game device and book



April 20, 1954 M. STEINBERG SELECTING GAME DEVICE AND BOOK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1949 INVENTOR. MEIRRIE ETEINBERE April 20, 1954 M. STEINBERG 2,676,019

SELECTING GAME DEVICE AND BOOK Filed Feb. 10, 1949 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 "Iii" DOUBLE Sl-lOl/LU'RED SPACER WASHER INVENTOR. GAMEBOARD Mann's .Errrzuuenzrms Patented Apr. 20, 1954 EJNITED STATEg i aiENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in selecting devices, for use in fortuitously selecting one from a large number of objects, questions, or the like, as in the playing of games, distribution of prizes, or education through the use of books of the quizzer type.

One object of this invention is the provision of a compact, easily read selecting device, whereby any one of a large number of, for example, questions may be quickly and fortuitously selected from, for example, a group of books, both the particular book being selected from the group and simultaneously the particular question in such book then to be used being determined entirely by chance.

Another object of this invention is the construction of a selecting device of few, light but rugparts, easily assembled and capable of withstanding long and vigorous use.

A further object of this invention is the provision or" a selecting device wherein a single spinner or a plurality of spinners may be arranged by substituting only one element in the spinner mounting assembly.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a selecting device wherein a hollow stepped sleeve forms the rest support and axle for one or a plurality of spinners and such sleeve is maintained in position upon a light base member by means of a hollow stud fitted into an aperture in such base member and flanged at its ends for firm engagement respectively with the sleeve and base member.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a practical mounting of a selecting device in a book cover where it will always be accessible for use in fortuitously selecting questions in such book, for example, and wherein turning of the book cover to various positions or stacking of the book in various positions for long periods will not deleteriously afiect the selecting device.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating presently preferred embodiments of this invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan View of a selecting device incorporating my invention, and wherein a pair of spinners are utilized to select any question from any of a group of pamphlets or the several chapters of a book of the quizzer type.

Figure 2 is a vertical section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 2 showing a modification utilizing a single spinner.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 2 showing a modification utilizing a larger number of spinners.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to that of 2 showin means for maintaining the spinners separated and properly mounted on the axle sleeve regardless of the position of the selecting device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view with parts broken away of a book having my improved selecting device mounted in its front cover.

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on the line I of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the hub portion of a modification showing a solid axle and supporting member for a pair of spinners.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral Ill designates a flat base, preferably formed of cardboard or the like, i l the upper or short spinner and I 2 the lower or long spinner. Spinners II and i2 are loosely supported on a hollow stepped cone-like sleeve It held in position on base Ill by a hollow eyelet-like supporting stud l 4 extending through and snugly fitting in an aperture I 5 in the base memher it. The lower portion of sleeve I3 is herein shown as a circular flange of comparatively large diameter engaging the upper face of base I 8 over a wide area exteriorly of the lower flange Ma of the supporting stud M, which engages the lower face of base it adjacent aperture I5, and may desired be substantially embedded therein. The respective spinners H and I2 have hub apertures of different diameters, the lower spinner l2 having the larger hub aperture. The sleeve 53 as herein shown is formed with a lower portion 53a rising from the bottom flange of the sleeve and terminating in a substantially horizontal step on which the hub portion of the lower spinner is normally adapted to rest, an intermediate riser portion i373 terminating in a substantially horizontal step on which the hub portion of the upper spinner H is normally adapted to rest, and an upper riser portion E30 of lesser diameter. The intermediate riser portion l3?) is of slightly less diameter than the hub aperture of the lower spinner it, which encircles such riser portion l3b, and the upper riser portion I30 is of slightly less diameter than the hub aperture of the upper spinner H, which encircles such riser portion Be.

In assembly, the lower spinner I2 is first lowered over the intermediate riser portion I3b to rest on the step therebelow, and the upper spinner I I similarly lowered over the upper riser portion I30 to rest on the step at the top of the intermediate riser portion. The spinners are then kept from accidental dislocation from the sleeve I3 by turning the head portion Idb of stud i l outwardly and downwardly, substantially as shown, the hub aperture of the upper spinner I I being of lesser area than such downturned head portion lib. It will be noted that the downturned head portion Idb of stud I i engages the uppermost portion of the sleeve I3 and serves to support such stepped sleeve I3 on stud I I. In practice, the crimping of the stud It to form its downturned head portion Mb is continued until it presses the bottom flange of sleeve I3 firmly against the upper surface of base member ID, the reaction to such pressure serving simultaneously to hold the bottom flange I ia of the stud firmly against the lower portion of base member Ill.

In the illustrated embodiment, lower spinner I2 is of greater length than upper spinner II and the spinners are arranged to cooperate with different sets of indications on the chart mounted on the upper face of base member Iii. The longer spinner cooperates with an outer circular scale I6, which is divided circumferentially into any desired number of divisions, as 20, which are respectively marked with numerals 1 through 20 in any desired order of arrangement. The shorter upper spinner II cooperates with an inner circular scale I! herein shown as having a lesser number of circumferential divisions than outer scale I6, each of which is marked, by way of example, with a letter. The combined letters of the inner scale I! may, for example, spell out one or more words. As herein shown, there are 9 subdivisions of inner scale Ii, and their respective letters spell out the words Auto Drive, for a reason to be hereinafter explained.

In use, the two spinners II and I2 are simultaneously rotated by a fiip of a finger, and, being freely rotatable around axles of different diameters, will continue to spin for diiferent periods of time until each comes to rest at haphazard positions dictated by chance. The letter then indicated by shorter spinner I I and the numeral then indicated by longer spinner l2 are read together. For example, in Fig. 1, the reading would be -8.

My improved selecting device is adaptable for many uses and purposes. Herein, I have illustrated one, by way of example, for an educational purpose. To thoroughly instruct drivers, and prospective drivers, of automobiles, trucks, busses, and the like, in the uses of the several parts of their vehicles, the repair, adjustment and servicing thereof, and/or the traffic laws applicable in various states or cities, a group of nine quizzertype pamphlets, or chapters of a book, are prepared, each with the number of questions and answers indicated by the total number in outer scale I6, and each pamphlet or chapter is given an identifying letter from those of inner'scale II. Preferably the answer to the questions are placed in a different part of the pamphlet, or book, so that a person may read the fortuitously selected question without seeing the answer. This tends toward inducing thought on the part of the user to formulate, or call on his memory to recollect, what he believes to be the proper answer, after which he can check to make certain he is right, or learn wherein he is in error. Thus individual instruction can be secured in privacy by repeated use of the selective device to fortuitously point out questions at random in many pamphlets or chapters, resultin in a wide knowledge embracing many subjects and. a consequent exercise of the users faculties. Of course, a number of persons may simultaneously be instructed, with each surmising what he conceives to be the proper answer, or for example, pupils in a classroom may successively spin the selective device in turn, and so haphazardly choose the particular question for him to answer.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of the two spinner selecting device wherein the stud It is firmly secured to the base member ID by having its lower fiange Ma countersunk into the lower face of the base member as well as having the stud shank snugly fit in the aperture I5 through the base member. In addition, means are provided for preventing the falling of the normally lower spinner I2 upon the shorter spinner I I whenever the selective device is overturned or swung beyond from the position shown. An upper ring I8 is arranged to loosely encircle the upper portion of upper riser I30 between the shorter spinner I I and the downturned head portion I ib of the stud, and a larger ring I9 is arranged to loosely encircle the upper portion of the intermediate riser I3b between spinners II and I2. The heights of rings I8 and IQ are less than the normal free distance between the objects they may engage above and below, thereby not interfering with the free rotation of the spinners in use, but the spaces between such rings and adjacent objects is so small that the upper ring it will quickly engage the downturned head portion I l?) and the lower ring I9 will quickly engage the normally upper spinner I I whenever the selecting device is overturned, holding the two spinners in spaced relation regardless of the position of the selecting device.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification wherein only a single spinner is utilized in the selecting device. The spinner 2! has an apertured hub portion encircling a single stepped sleeve 22 wherein the lower riser portion 22a terminates in a substantially horizontal step on which spinner 2I normally rests and the upper riser portion 22?) forms the axle about which spinner 2I may rotate. The bottom fiange of sleeve 22 is pressed firmly against the upper face of base member 29 by the crimped head portion of hollow stud 23, the bottom flange of the stud being simultaneously pressed into firm engagement With the lower surface of the base member an when the head portion of the stud is crimped.

In Fig. 4 is shown an embodiment wherein a larger number of spinners are utilized upon a single stepped sleeve than the pair shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Above the bottom flange of stepped sleeve 35 are arranged as many integral riser and shoulder portions in diminishing stepped relation as are desired for supporting and guiding the rotation of a plurality of spinners. The uppermost riser has the smallest diameter, and each lower shoulder and riser has a larger diameter than that next above. By way of example, four spinners 3|, 32, 33' and 3d are shown, the spinners being provided with hub bearing apertures sized to loosely surround the particular risers they encircle, as in the first described embodiment. In assembly, the lowermost spinner is first lowered into position, then the next above, and so on.

After the uppermost spinner is mounted the head portion of hollow stud 36 is crimped outwardly and downwardly until sleeve 35 isfirmly pressed into engagement with the upper face of base member 36, the bottom flange of the stud being simultaneously pressed into firm contact with the lower surface of base when the head portion of the stud is crimped.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a mounting of my selecting device in a cover portion of a book. As herein shown, the modification shown in Fig. 1 utilizing a pair of spinners is mounted in the front cover 4| of a book of the loose-leaf type, wherein questions and answers relating to desired subject-matter are arranged in chapters 48 respectively designated by the letters marked on the subdivisions of the inner circular chart cooperating with the shorter spinner 44 of my selecting device, and the questions in each chapter bear numbers corresponding to the members marked on the subdivisions of the outer circular chart cooperating with the longer spinner of my selecting device. Thus, in Fig. 6 the spinners are shown as if haphazardly stopped in positions designating E-12, and the leaves of the book are shown broken away above chapter E to where question 12 of such chapter E is shown at 49.

Front cover 41 has a filler portion of sufiicient thickness to house the selecting device and is provided with an aperture 42 of sufiicient area to permit spinners 44 and 45 to rotate therein. The base member 43 of the selecting device is countersunk into an undercut portion in the outer face of the filler surrounding aperture 42, which undercut portion is shaped and sized to snugly receive such base member 43. Spinners 44 and 45 are supported and guided in rotation by stepped sleeve 46 pressed upon base member 43 by stud 47 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. An outer covering member of leather, paper, plastic, or other desired material, surmounts the entire filler portion of front cover 4| and hides the selecting device mounted therein when the book is closed. An inner covering member for the filler has an aperture out therein and arranged to align with the aperture '42 in the filler, as shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modified form of stepped sleeve 54 for mounting a pair of spinners 5| and 52, and maintaining them in substantially the same spaced relation loosely mounted upon a base member 50 regardless of the various positions assumed by the selecting device. The sleeve 54 is solid, with a central aperture therethrough for the passage of the hollow stud, or eyelet, 53, by means of which the sleeve 54 is secured upon the base member 50, which may be, for example, a game board with appropriate indicia arranged thereon for cooperation with spinners 5| and 52. Sleeve 54 is formed with riser portions of different diameters on opposite sides of a double shouldered spacer portion 54a, such riser portions serving as axles for the respective spinners and such spacer portion serving to maintain the spinners constantly in substantially the same spaced relation even if the base member 50 be upsidedown or angled accidentally. A lower washer 55 surrounds the lower portion of sleeve 54 to form a rest for lower spinner 52 when it is not rotating, and a smaller upper washer 56 is arranged at the top of sleeve 54 surrounding hollow stud 53. The upper washer 5 6 is of greater area than the hub aperture of upper spinner 5| to prevent accidental dislocation of such upper spinner from the selecting device, and the crimping of the head portion of stud 53 is continued until it presses washer 56 firmly against sleeve 54 and forces the sleeve downwardly until engagement of an intermediate portion of the sleeve with lower washer 55 is established. The reaction to such pressure will serve to hold the bottom flange of stud 53 firmly against the lower surface of the base member 50.

While it is apparent that the illustrated embodiments herein described are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages herein stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A book comprising covers and a paged body portion therebetween mechanically divided into designated sections, and a chance selecting device mounted in one of said covers, said device including a dial face having indicia corresponding to said section designations and a spinner rotatably mounted in relation to said face whereby chance selection may be made of any section in the paged body portion of the book.

2. A book comprising covers and a paged body portion therebetwcen mechanically divided into designated sections, the increment of said paged body portion in each section bearing subdividing indicia, and a chance selecting device mounted in one of said covers and including a dial face having indicia corresponding to said section designations and to said subdividing indicia, said selecting device having spinners mounted for independent rotation in relation to said face whereby chance selection may be made of any section in the paged body portion of the book and any subdivision thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 428,795 Von Auw May 27, 1890 553,963 Palmer Feb. 4, 1896 753,546 Chappee Mar. 1, 1904 1,542,874 Hampel June 23, 1925 1,648,360 OBrien Nov. 8, 1927 1,971,735 Steele Aug. 28, 1934 2,018,038 Steinberg Oct. 22, 1935 2,041,466 Gertz May 19, 1986 2,097,027 Fry Oct. 26, 1937 2,138,443 Cavalero Nov. 29, 1938 2,312,773 Palmer Mar. 2, 1943 2,322,564 Buckley et al June 22, 1943 

